Gonzaga vs. West Virginia, West Region; Thursday, San Jose. A great contrast in styles between the smothering defense of the Mountaineers and the offensive firepower of the Zags.

Kansas vs. Purdue, Midwest Region; Thursday, Kansas City. The Jayhawks have all those athletes. The Boilermakers have Mr. Double-Double Caleb Swanigan. The game will be just down the road from Lawrence, so expect the Sprint Center to be rocking.

Xavier vs. Arizona, West Region; Thursday in San Jose. Wildcats coach Sean Miller against protege Chris Mack in the Sweet 16 for the second time in three years. We'll take it.

Wisconsin vs. Florida, East Region; Friday, New York. The Duke-Villanova matchup everyone wanted didn't materialize, but the Badgers and Gators will play some high-level basketball in the Garden.

TOP PLAYERS

Frank Mason III, Kansas. National player of the year frontrunner still playing like it in March.

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Lonzo Ball, UCLA. Can dominate without scoring, hits big shots when his team needs them, too.

Caleb Swanigan, Purdue. Practically carried the Boilermakers past Iowa State and into the Sweet 16 on his broad shoulders.

Nigel Williams-Goss, Gonzaga. The player who makes the Zags go.

Dillon Brooks, Oregon. Clutch, does whatever it takes to win even if he's not hitting shots.

Sindarius Thornwell, South Carolina. SEC coaches voted him the player of the year over those future NBA players at Kentucky. There's a reason.

NUMBERS

1--ACC team left in the bracket after nine qualified.

3--Teams still in the bracket for the Big 12, SEC, Pac-12 and Big Ten.

4--Trips to the Sweet 16 for Baylor, all since 2010.

11--Seed of Xavier, highest left in the tournament.

17--Combined NCAA Tournament games for Wisconsin seniors Bronson Koenig and Nigel Hayes, most in the nation.

46--Assists to 10 turnovers by UCLA so far in the NCAA Tournament, the best ratio in the field.

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